Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal printer in which, even if a pair of head supporting members for supporting a thermal head composed of a line head has a positional error, the thermal head can be automatically adjusted to uniformly pressure-contact with a platen roller. A rotation supporting portion of a head supporting member is formed in a hole shape elongated in a direction parallel to a direction where a thermal head contacts with or separates from a platen roller. One end of each of the head supporting members is supported by a main body case so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the direction where the thermal head contacts with or separates from the platen roller.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises an original mounting table, a scanning means for scanning an original mounted on the original mounting table, a carriage for mounting the scanning means thereon, a cable for transmitting a moving force to the carriage, and a guide member for guiding the carriage in the movement direction thereof. The carriage is biased in a rotating direction centering about an axis perpendicular to the original mounting table by the tension of the cable.

Abstract: By using an ink jet head, which has for each color two parallel columns of nozzles arranged side by side in the main scan direction and shifted from each other by one-half the pitch at which the nozzles are arranged in each column, odd-numbered rasters and even-numbered rasters making up an image are printed by the two nozzle columns. The registration between the odd- and even-numbered rasters is secured during the printing to produce an image with high print quality. For that purpose, the ink ejection timing between the two raster groups is shifted by a predetermined interval to form a plurality of adjustment patterns; the adjustment patterns printed are checked and, according to the check result, an adjustment value for the ink ejection timing between the two ink nozzle columns is entered; and the entered adjustment value is stored to be reflected on the actual printing operation.

Abstract: The image processing device (A) comprises an original-document platen roller (P1) that has a first driven gear (G1) and is for transporting an original document (D), a recording-paper platen roller (P2) that has a second driven gear (G2) and is for transporting recording paper (K), and a drive mechanism (2) that has a first movable gear (a1), a second movable gear (a2), and a drive source (M) and is for transmitting a drive force generated by this drive source (M) to the first driven gear (G1) and second driven gear (G2). First movable gear (a1) is provided so as to be capable of engaging directly with first driven gear (G1), and second movable gear (a2) is provided so as to be capable of engaging directly with second driven gear (G2).

Abstract: A thermal transfer media printer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the printer selectively programs RFID transponders, and then embeds them into conventional on-demand printed media between the adhesive layer and the release liner. Selective configuration of each printed media sample by addition of value-adding elements may be performed independently for each media sample, under software control during processing of each media sample format print control program. An add-on mechanism is disclosed that can be operatively attached to a conventional media printer. This allows RFID transponder labels to be selectively applied at precise locations on the printed surface of on-demand printed media in connection with existing printers.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing a plurality of printed and activated time dependent labels. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a web having a plurality of inked substrates thereon. Each substrate has a migrating ink pattern printed on a surface of the substrate. A transfer printer is provided that has a first ribbon means for applying a timing layer through which the migrating ink bleeds after a predetermined period of time. A second ribbon means is provided for printing variable data. The web of inked substrates is continuously fed through the printer, each inked substrate passing sequentially under the first ribbon means and then the second ribbon means. The first ribbon means is activated to apply the timing layer to a portion of the printed surface of each inked substrate thereunder to produce a coated substrate.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a printing device and a laminating device that work in an integrated operation, such that in normal operation the print media extends between the printing device and the laminating device; the printing device comprises means for printing at least one plot on said media while it advances in a first media advance direction, and the laminating device comprises means for laminating at least one printed plot in a second advance direction of said print media which is opposite to said first advance direction. The laminating device may comprise means for selectively inactivating lamination when print media travels therethrough. A method for printing and laminating at least part of a print media in an integrated operation is such that printing of at least one plot is performed in a first advance direction of said print media and subsequent laminating of at least one printed plot is performed in a second advance direction of said print media, opposite to said first advance direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of avoiding core set curl in thermal prints comprising providing thermal print material wound image receiving side toward the core, passing said print material from said core around a turning roll in a direction opposite to the core wind, passing said print material under tension in an arcuate path with image side out beneath at least three thermal print heads to form an image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for treating forms, especially betting slips or the like, comprising a reader with a transport device that forms a gap-type transport path for a betting slip. In the path of said transport path a reading head is disposed and is linked with a control and evaluation unit. In the projection of the at least one vertically aligned transport path a printer is disposed below the reading heat that is linked with the control and evaluation unit. Said printer comprises an abutment and a print head that can be adjusted between an abutment remote rest position and an abutment proximal operative position. Downstream of the abutment and below said abutment a sheet tray is provided.

Abstract: A printing method includes the steps of transporting a recording medium and an intermediate transfer medium for holding an image temporarily to an image forming position; selectively forming an image on the recording medium and the intermediate transfer medium at the image forming position; transporting the recording medium to an image transfer position; and transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to the recording medium at the image transfer position. When forming the image on the recording medium at the image forming position, it is prohibited to form the image on the intermediate transfer medium.

Abstract: When perforating a stencil material by a thermal head on the basis of image data, the smoothness of the stencil material is measured. The energy applied to the thermal head is increased as the smoothness of the stencil material becomes lower.

Abstract: A printer apparatus has a printing device for printing on a printable layer of a thermosensitive adhesive sheet. A heat-application and transporting member heats a thermosensitive adhesive layer of the thermosensitive adhesive sheet and transports the thermosensitive adhesive sheet. A control device controls the heat-application and transporting member to heat a portion of the thermosensitive adhesive layer of the thermosensitive adhesive sheet while simultaneously controlling the printing device to print on a portion of the printable layer of the thermosensitive adhesive sheet disposed opposite to and generally confronting the portion of the thermosensitive adhesive layer of the thermosensitive adhesive sheet.

Abstract: A recording apparatus effects recording on a recording material by a recorder. The apparatus includes a tray, mountable to the recording apparatus, for stacking a recording material, a portion to be detected, provided on the tray to permit detection of a position of the tray, and a tray position detecting portion for detecting the portion to be detected. A position of the recording material stacked on the tray is detected by detecting the position of the portion to be detected.

Abstract: In a method of monitoring a printing parameter of a printer, as well as a corresponding printing system, printing data are printed out, before being transmitted to a printer, by means of a further printer. The further printer is coupled to a sensor arrangement and monitored by means of a control unit, for determining desired values by using the printout produced by the further printer. By using this printout, a predetermined criterion is determined for a comparison of the printing parameter.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a thermal head which extends in a main scan direction. Feeder rollers move thermal recording paper relative to the thermal head in a sub scan direction, for image recording to the recording paper in a surface recording manner. In the thermal printer, at least one position detector includes a contact lever, rotatable about a rotational center. There is an edge contact surface for being pressed by a lateral edge of the recording paper. An encoding panel projects from the contact lever and away from the recording paper, and is shiftable in response to rotation of the contact lever. A detection pattern is formed on the encoding panel, and extends in a shifting direction thereof. An encoding sensor of two-phase outputting encoding is disposed in a shifting path of the detection pattern, for photoelectrically detecting a shifted position of the detection pattern.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to enable no-margin printing to be achieved without the need to cut off margins, while avoiding a discontinuous output result in which the areas between adjacent print images are missing even if poster printing is carried out. Print data outputted by an input section is stored in an input buffer. One page of print data from the input buffer is inputted to the dividing section. The dividing section divides the one page of print data in accordance with division numbers J and K indicated by an instructing section. The dividing section then outputs the divided print data to a printing section as a plurality of print images. The plurality of print images outputted to the printing section are printed on the respective sheets.

Abstract: A printer device is equipped with a supply shaft and a take-up shaft for conveying an intermediate transfer medium having a transferring layer in a prescribed pattern, a printer portion for printing prescribed information on the transferring layer of the conveyed intermediate transfer medium, a transferring portion for transferring prescribed printed information together with the transferring layer on an image receiving medium, and a pressurization mechanism for press fitting an image receiving medium and the intermediate transfer medium by applying a fixed pressure irrespective of a thickness of an image forming medium.

Abstract: In order to provide a thermal activation apparatus capable of thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive agent layer of a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet as needed, pull-in rollers 20 for pulling and transferring a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet A inserted from an insertion slot 1, a thermal activation unit 40 for thermally activating a heat-sensitive adhesive agent layer of the sheet A that is transferred, and ejection rollers 50 for ejecting from an ejection slot 2 the sheet A in which the heat-sensitive adhesive agent layer has been thermally activated are provided inside a housing 3, and the heat-sensitive adhesive agent layer of a sheet A that has not yet been printed or that has already been printed can be thermally activated as needed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has an image forming portion for forming an image on an intermediate transfer sheet for temporarily retaining the image and a transfer portion for transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to a card. An over-coating device is provided for covering a surface of the card with the image with a coating film. The image forming portion is also capable of printing an image directly on a card. A platen roller supports the card or the intermediate transfer medium. The apparatus can switch between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method, thereby reducing a size and a cost of the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A compact disc transporter has been described that includes a two-step printer. The printer uses an intermediate transfer sheet to receive a print image that is subsequently transferred to a compact disc. The transporter allows parallel processing of image data and content data. A significant time reduction can be achieved by preprinting the image to a transfer sheet prior to transferring the image to a CD.

Abstract: The invention relates to thermal printers for printing on flat objects such as plastic or cardboard cards, for example loyalty cards or even chip cards, magnetic cards or any other similar media.

Abstract: In order to provide a thermal printer which performs detection of the presence or absence of recording paper and detection of the attachment/detachment states of a platen roller with reliability using only one sensor and which has such a simple structure that it can be diverted to any kind system merely by changing some components, the thermal printer of the present invention comprises a main body frame, a thermal head for performing printing on recording paper and a head supporting member integrally provided at the back of the thermal head, a platen roller placed side by side with the thermal head, a bearing portion for rotatably and attachably/detachably supporting the platen roller; an urging unit for urging the thermal head in a direction in which the thermal head is brought into pressure contact with the platen roller, and a load detection type sensor provided at a position at which under a state where the recording paper exists below the platen roller and a shaft of the platen roller is supported by the

Abstract: A printing device is described, predominantly for printing labels on a tape. The printing device has a display and input means for inputting characters to be printed by the printing device. Using the input means, a cursor on the display can be controlled. The printing device has a label memory which comprises a storage portion having a plurality of storage sections. The display is operable to display a plurality of label access elements each of which represents a respective storage section in the storage portion of the memory. The cursor is used to access a selected storage section of the memory associated with the label access element identified by the cursor position. A method of storage label data in a label memory using this principle is also described.

Abstract: In order to provide a printer apparatus for a thermally sensitive adhering sheet capable of transporting a short label and capable of promoting reliability of delivery of sheet from a printing unit to a thermally activating unit, a printer apparatus for a thermally sensitive adhering sheet comprises at least a printing apparatus comprising printing means for printing a printable layer of a thermally sensitive adhering sheet constituted by respectively forming a printable layer on one face of a sheet-like base member and a thermally sensitive adhering agent layer on other face thereof and first transporting means for transporting the thermally sensitive adhering sheet in a predetermined direction, a cutter apparatus provided at a poststage of the printing apparatus for cutting the thermally sensitive adhering sheet by a predetermined length, and a thermally activating apparatus comprising heating means arranged at a predetermined interval from a poststage of the cutter apparatus for heating the thermally sensi

Abstract: A printing apparatus prints directly to a card and has an image forming portion for forming images to an intermediate transfer sheet for temporarily retaining images and a transfer portion for transferring images formed on an intermediate transfer medium to a card. A thermal head in the image forming portion prints directly to a card and forms images on an intermediate transfer medium. A platen roller supports a card or the intermediate transfer medium. Members are shared for the direct transfer and indirect transfer. The apparatus switches between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method for printing, is compact and low cost.

Abstract: A printing method for printing a pixel at a gray level x on paper by a printer. The printer includes a thermal print head, which includes a heater for heating a ribbon to print pixels from gray levels 1 to m−1 on the paper, and the ribbon. The method includes: if x is not greater than a value n, heating the ribbon x times and evenly distributing the heating initiation times of the x times between the time point 0 and the time point (m*(x−1)/n) for printing the pixel at gray level x on the paper. If x is greater than the value n, heating the ribbon x times and evenly distributing the heating initiation time of the n times between the time point 0 and the time point (m*(n−1)/n) and distributing the heating initiation times of the x−n times after the heating initiation time points of the n times.

Abstract: An arrangement for printing a print image having regions of different print image resolution onto a moving postal item in a mail processing device has a microprocessor, a pixel memory, a read-only memory and a print data controller for pixel data editing while printing with a printhead. The microprocessor is programmed to operate from data in the read-only memory, a number of data strings having a switchable number of data words and to store them in the pixel memory. A maximum number of data words per data string is downwardly transgressed when the pixel data are stored compressed. The print data controller undertakes pixel data editing while printing with the printhead and is equipped to decompress the compressed pixel data per data string and to supplement the pixel data missing due to the compression such that the reduction of the number of data words per data string corresponds to the reduction in the resolution during printing.

Abstract: A printer for identification cards as a supply of a plurality of individual intermediate transfer sheets that have a separable layer on which printing can take place. The sheets are passed across a printhead for printing images on the layer, and then an identification card from a suitable supply is positioned to overlie the printed intermediate transfer sheet. The intermediate transfer sheet and the identification card are then passed through a laminator where the layer carrying the printing is laminated to a surface of the card. The card and the laminated intermediate transfer sheet are then passed through a separator that will peel away a backing sheet for the layer carrying the printing, and the printed image will remain in place on the card.

Abstract: A simple and lightweight torque clutch apparatus capable of freely changing a torque and a printer apparatus capable of tension controlling of ink ribbon in a simplified structure are proposed. A torque clutch apparatus includes a shaft, a first gear rotatably fitted to the shaft, first and second sandwiching members fitted to the shaft so as to sandwich the first gear therebetween and to rotate integrally with the shaft, a second gear rotatably screwed on the shaft, and a spring arranged between the second gear and the first or second sandwiching member opposing the second gear.

Abstract: A printing head which outputs an output from a sensor device provided for monitoring various condition of a printing head as-digital data, and a printing apparatus using the printing head. The output from the device for detecting condition of the printing head, e.g., information indicative of a substrate temperature, a resistance value of an electrothermal transducer, an ON resistance value of a power transistor which drives the electrothermal transducer and the like is digitized on the substrate, and outputted as digital information to the outside. Further, the digital information is outputted by utilizing a clock signal and a latch signal used for transferring print data to the printing head. This does not increase the number of wires and the area of the substrate.

Abstract: In a method of forming an ink-receptive card substrate, an ink-receptive material is provided. The ink-receptive material includes a backing layer and an ink-receptive coating on a surface of the backing layer. Next, a card member is provided. Finally, the ink-receptive material is laminated to a surface of the card member with the ink-receptive coating facing the surface of the card member. This results in the bonding of the ink-receptive coating to the surface of the card member. Additional embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices that are configured to perform the above-identified method.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing the appearance of, and safeguarding, sales receipts. The methods provide sales receipts with watermarks, strike-throughs, and circles-about-an-item. These added functions can be accomplished in real time. Some of them can be printed in distinguishing colors.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling the printing in a mail-processing device has a print data controller for pixel data editing while printing with a print heads. The print data controller is composed of a pixel data-editing unit and a circuit including a DMA controller, an address is generator and a printer controller. The DMA controller allows access to the binary pixel data stored in the pixel memory in order to make the data available to the pixel data-editing unit in data strings. The address generator generates addresses that are supplied to the pixel data-editing unit for the selection of the binary pixel data from an intermediately stored data string and for grouping in the required sequence. The printer controller drives the pixel data-editing unit in order to supply the binary pixel data in groups to a driver unit for the print head.

Abstract: A thermal transfer overcoating technology for reducing overcoat tags. Skewing the interface between a carrier ribbon to coated document at the peeling of the carrier from the coated document concentrates the forces at the interface to a smaller region of the document edge. Moreover, tensioning the document at the interface changes the forces at the interface from peeling type to tensile type.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has an image forming portion for forming an image on an intermediate transfer sheet for temporarily retaining the image and a transfer portion for transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to a card. An over-coating device is provided for covering a surface of the card with the image with a coating film. The image forming portion is also capable of printing an image directly on a card. A platen roller supports the card or the intermediate transfer medium. The apparatus can switch between the direct transfer method and the indirect transfer method, thereby reducing a size and a cost of the printing apparatus.

Abstract: To provide a printer apparatus for a thermosensible adhering sheet capable of realizing small-sized formation/light-weighted formation and capable of shortening a time period required for printing processing/thermally activating processing.

Abstract: A simple and lightweight torque clutch apparatus capable of freely changing a torque and a printer apparatus capable of tension controlling of ink ribbon in a simplified structure are proposed. A torque clutch apparatus includes a shaft, a first gear rotatably fitted to the shaft, first and second sandwiching members fitted to the shaft so as to sandwich the first gear therebetween and to rotate integrally with the shaft, a second gear rotatably screwed on the shaft, and a spring arranged between the second gear and the first or second sandwiching member opposing the second gear.

Abstract: A method of providing printing and embossing data includes transmitting print image data defining an image to be printed and emboss image data defining an image to be embossed, where the data is transmitted over a single data path to a common recipient processor.

Abstract: A printer includes a print head for printing from a donor medium to a receiver medium, a platen member for holding the donor medium in a printing relation with the receiver medium at said print head, a pair of steering and drive rollers for feeding the receiver medium from between the steering and drive rollers, and a movable support for the platen member and the steering roller that moves the platen member towards the print head to hold the receiver medium in the printing relation with the donor medium and away from the print head to release the receiver medium from the printing relation with the donor medium and that moves the steering roller to vary a feeding angle at which the receiver medium is fed from between the steering and driver rollers.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling the printing in a mail-processing device has a print data controller for pixel data editing while printing with a print head. The print data controller is composed of a pixel data-editing unit and a circuit including a DMA controller, an address generator and a printer controller. The DMA controller allows access to the binary pixel data stored in the pixel memory in order to make the data available to the pixel data-editing unit in data strings. The address generator generates addresses that are supplied to the pixel data-editing unit for the selection of the binary pixel data from an intermediately stored data string and for grouping in the required sequence. The printer controller drives the pixel data-editing unit in order to supply the binary pixel data in groups to a driver unit for the print head.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of printing polymer films and corresponding articles. The invention is useful for providing dimensional stability during printing and/or improving the print quality, particularly for contact or thermal printing methods such as thermal mass transfer printing.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer having a print head and a media support platform in the form of a removable tray that is displaced relative to the print head, the media support platform having a rigid support surface for a media item having a non-rectangular configuration such as a compact disk, the support platform having a mask with a cutout substantially in the shape of the non-rectangular disk, the mask and media item combining to form a contact surface for the print head to uniformly distribute a constant force of the print head in a uniform pressure across the mask and media item during printing, the mask providing, in addition, a holding apparatus for the media item which is contacted by a displaceable retainer urging the media item against the edge of the mask with the print head avoiding contact with the retainer on the printing area, the printer having a mechanism to displace the retainer and sense whether a media item is properly placed in the cutout and retained by the retaining apparatus, and the prin

Abstract: An image-forming substrate has a sheet of paper, and a layer of microcapsules coated over the paper sheet. The microcapsule layer contains at least one type of microcapsules filled with a liquid dye, and a shell wall of each of the microcapsules is composed of resin that exhibits a temperature/pressure characteristic such that, when each of the microcapsules is squashed under a predetermined pressure at a predetermined temperature, the liquid dye seeps from the squashed microcapsule.

Abstract: A maskable drive signal generator selectively generates one of n types of maskable drive signals for each main scan pass, and a drive signal masking section generates a drive signal to be supplied to ink-expulsion drive elements of a print head by masking the maskable drive signal according to a print signal. The printing of ink dots on each raster line is completed in n×m main scan passes while employing each of the n types of maskable drive signals m times on each raster line.

Abstract: A method for reducing rub-off by employing a substrate having a front side and a back side with the front side bearing a toner image by depositing a phase change composition on the non-image bearing side of the substrate as a plurality of dots, with the plurality of dots cumulatively covering an area of the non-image bearing side sufficient to reduce rub-off from the image bearing side of an adjacent substrate.

Abstract: A disclosed thermal printer provides a dual thermal heads for duplicate printing of parameter values indicating game play information obtained from playing a gaming machine. The dual-head thermal printer, which may be incorporated into a gaming machine and other gaming devices as well as devices used outside of gaming applications, simultaneously prints an issued ticket voucher and a duplicate ticket voucher. The duplicate ticket voucher may be stored within the gaming machine or a gaming device to provide an audit trail of the issued ticket voucher. The issued ticket voucher and the duplicate ticket voucher may be printed from stacks of two-ply thermal printing media stored in a single tray, sheets of thermal printing media stored in a single tray or from two stacks of single-ply thermal printing media stored in separate trays.

Abstract: A printing apparatus which can perform switching between a direct transfer system and an indirect transfer system, and which has reduced malfunction in print process, is provided. In the printing apparatus, determination is made whether a light emitting device detects the intermediate transfer sheet (S124), when the determination is affirmative, the touch panel is controlled to refuse accepting an input of a direct transfer mode (S128) and power supply for pulse motors which are driving sources for the direct transfer mode is stopped to make the first mode disable (S130). When the determination is negative, the touch panel is controlled to refuse accepting an input of an indirect transfer mode (S136) and power supply for pulse motors which are driving sources for the indirect transfer mode is stopped to make the indirect transfer mode disable (S138). When one mode is set, another mode is made disable.

Abstract: An printing apparatus is equipped with a recording medium transport device for transporting a recording medium from a supply portion along a transport path; at least one printing device arranged on the transport path for selectively forming an image on the recording medium or an intermediate transfer medium for temporarily holding the image at a predetermined image forming position; and a transfer device arranged on the transport path for transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to the recording medium. A mode setting device selects a mode between the first mode in which the printing device forms the image on the recording medium and the second mode in which the printing device forms the image on the intermediate transfer medium. An intermediate transfer medium moving device advances and retracts the intermediate transfer medium between the image forming position and a retracted position.

Abstract: The invention provides a carrier device for a thermal transfer medium comprising a spool for winding and supporting a thermal transfer sheet or a thermal transfer receiving sheet, wherein a mark containing a coloring material which absorbs an electromagnetic wave of a predetermined wavelength &lgr;1 and emitting an electromagnetic wave of a wavelength &lgr;2 different from the wavelength &lgr;1 is provided on a region in a surface of the carrier device capable of being irradiated with an electromagnetic wave. The invention provides a discrimination method and a printer each of which utilizes such a carrier device capable of executing at least one process among the kind identification, the fake goods determination and the use amount calculation for the thermal transfer sheet or the thermal transfer receiving sheet based on a detection of the mark.

Abstract: A printhead assembly for a printer with the printhead mounted in the lid of the printer and the platen mounted in the body of the printer. The printhead is spring loaded, permitting it to float in both the vertical and horizontal directions within the lid assembly. Guideposts are located in the body of the printer with a defined positional relationship to the platen. When the lid is closed, the guideposts position the printhead in its correct position with respect to the platen. Mounting the printhead in the lid and the platen in the printer body permits new paper to be loaded quickly and easily by simply pulling the paper past the platen and closing the lid. The cumbersome paper-threading procedure of conventional inexpensive printers is avoided.